Penne Alla Vodka

My Penne Alla Vodka is extremely flavorful, creamy, and clean. That is a straightforward, principally hands-off recipe that may feed your loved ones in simply 1 hour! Recipe features a how-to video.

Wooden spoon resting in a large skillet of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan cheese.

Insanely Flavorful Penne Alla Vodka

Should you’re searching for an indulgent dinner choice that’s assured to impress, you’re going to LOVE immediately’s penne alla vodka recipe.

I don’t say that calmly. In the present day’s recipe is really spectacular and satisfying. It has an unbelievable depth of taste (even if it’s meatless, it rivals my beef ragu in taste) that’s completely balanced and restaurant-quality. It jogs my memory a little bit of my tomato soup in that the sauce isn’t overly-acidic from the tomatoes, however creamy and wealthy as an alternative.

And that sauce… actually other-worldly. I’m not stingy with it, both. There’s lots to luxuriously and generously coat each penne noodle, whereas nonetheless leaving lots to go round and to be sopped up with garlic knots.

Close-up view of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

My pasta alla vodka recipe doesn’t require a lot hands-on time however I do strongly suggest permitting it half-hour of simmering for finest taste.

And that vodka?

It isn’t only for present; it helps give the sauce a creamy, velvety mouthfeel and provides to the depth of taste. It’s a key element of this recipe.

Why you’ll adore it:

Takes simply 1 hour to make from start-to-finish.
Makes use of complete tomatoes (that you simply’ll crush your self) for the most effective taste.
Pairs properly with seared rooster or shrimp, plus home made breadsticks for dipping.
Will be made as gentle or spicy as you want!

What You Want

Overhead view of ingredients including penne pasta, vodka, canned tomatoes, cream, and more.

Listed here are the important thing elements that make this pasta alla vodka so insanely irresistible:

Tomatoes. I favor to make use of complete tomatoes and really feel they make a greater sauce, however you may substitute crushed tomatoes in a pinch.
Vodka. Use a plain, unflavored vodka. Just about any model will work right here, it doesn’t should be the costliest model. I wouldn’t have a really helpful substitute if you don’t want to use vodka, it will fully change the dish.
Heavy cream. We’ll be utilizing a good bit of cream to mood the tomatoes. This dish is certainly indulgent consolation meals!
Crimson pepper flakes. Crimson pepper provides a pleasant delicate warmth. Should you like penne alla vodka to be spicy, double the quantity I’ve listed. Or, should you don’t need any warmth, simply go away it out!
Pasta. Penne is often the norm, however you actually can use any kind of noodle to make it pasta alla vodka. Rigatoni would work simply as properly, as would any thicker noodle that may enable the sauce to cling to it.

SAM’S TIP: Save your pasta water! It additionally provides taste and helps the sauce cling completely to the noodles. This a easy trick I exploit in lots of my pasta recipes (like beef ragu). Pasta water is liquid gold!

Keep in mind, that is simply an outline of the elements I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll all the way down to the underside of the publish!

The way to Make Pasta Alla Vodka

Collage of four photos showing onions being cooked and combined with tomatoes to make a pasta sauce.

Create a flavorful base – Cook dinner onion in melted butter and oil over medium warmth till softened, then add the garlic and cook dinner for 30 seconds.
Stir within the vodka – Add the vodka, scraping the underside of the pan as you do. Cook dinner till the vodka is diminished by half.
Add the seasonings – Stir within the tomato paste and seasonings till clean and included.
Break up the tomatoes – Add the tomatoes and use your spoon to interrupt them down into smaller items.

Collage of four photos showing cream being poured into tomato sauce before being blended and combined with penne pasta.

Add the cream – Slowly stir within the cream till included.
Mix and simmer – Mix the sauce till clean utilizing an immersion blender or blender. Let the sauce simmer for at the very least half-hour.
Make your pasta – Put together your pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water earlier than draining (do NOT rinse!).
Mix and revel in – Add the pasta to the sauce together with a splash of pasta water. Stir within the parmesan or basil and hold simmering till the sauce and pasta are included, then serve.

SAM’S TIP: You gained’t want the complete cup of pasta water, however it can save you the remainder for warming up leftovers the subsequent day. Because the pasta absorbs a lot of the liquid, leftovers can appear dry, I’ll often reheat then with a splash of pasta water to make them creamy and saucy once more.

Overhead view of a skillet of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

Continuously Requested Questions

Why add vodka to pasta sauce?

The vodka melds the cream and tomatoes collectively and enhances the general taste of the sauce, significantly the tomatoes. It creates a silky texture and adjustments the sauce in a noticeable approach with out making it style like vodka.

Is penne alla vodka alcoholic?

Technically sure, since we’re including alcohol. Nevertheless, we’re going to cook dinner off most of that alcohol (if not all), and the ultimate dish can have little or no left as soon as divided amongst 6 parts. Nobody shall be getting tipsy from pasta alla vodka!

Nevertheless, should you’re actually fearful about it, I counsel you utilize your personal discretion when serving to alcohol-sensitive friends and children.

What does penne alla vodka style like?

Pasta alla vodka has a powerful tomato style mellowed by cream and vodka. It’s wealthy, however nice to eat with a well-rounded taste. Whereas you should still be capable to detect some vodka taste by the point the sauce is completed cooking, it will likely be very delicate and most actually not the principle taste of the dish.

Skillet of penne pasta in a tomato vodka sauce topped with parmesan cheese.

I hope you loved immediately’s savory recipe. We’ll be again to sweets on Thursday 😊

Get pleasure from!

Let’s bake collectively! I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps in my written recipe and video beneath! Should you do that recipe, you’ll want to tag me on Instagram, and you can too discover me on YouTube and Fb

My penne alla vodka is extremely flavorful, creamy, and clean. That is a straightforward, principally hands-off recipe that may feed your loved ones in simply 1 hour! Recipe features a how-to video!

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Course: Dinner

Delicacies: American, Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 45 minutes

Whole Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 servings

Energy: 580kcal

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Directions

Warmth oil and butter in a big pot over medium warmth till butter is melted and pan is scorching.

2 Tablespoons further virgin olive oil, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Add onion and cook dinner, stirring, till softened (about 3-5 minutes).

1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
Add garlic and cook dinner till aromatic (about 30 seconds).

1 Tablespoon minced garlic
Add vodka and cook dinner, scraping the underside of the pot, till vodka is diminished by about half and also you not get slapped within the face by the scent of alcohol should you whiff the steam.

⅓ cup vodka
Add tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crimson pepper flakes and cook dinner, stirring, till combination is clean and tomato paste is properly included.

2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¾ teaspoons desk salt, ½ teaspoon floor black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes
Add complete tomatoes, breaking them up together with your spatula or spoon.

28 oz can complete peeled tomatoes
Drizzle in cream and stir till well-combined. Use your immersion blender to puree the sauce till clean (should you don’t have an immersion blender, switch sauce to a blender and puree there, then return to the pot).

1 cup + 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
Scale back warmth and simmer for at the very least half-hour, stirring often. Put together pasta whereas combination simmers.

16 oz penne pasta
Cook dinner penne pasta in well-salted water in accordance with bundle directions. When completed cooking, reserve 1 cup of pasta water earlier than draining.
Add cooked, drained pasta to pot with a splash of reserved pasta water and add grated parmesan and sliced basil. Stir properly and proceed to simmer over low warmth. If combination turns into too thick, add further reserved pasta water as wanted (you gained’t want the complete cup, however I wish to have spare water for leftovers the subsequent day).

¼ cup grated parmesan, 2 Tablespoons finely sliced recent basil
Serve, topped with further grated parmesan and recent basil if desired.

Notes

Vodka

Use a plain/unflavored vodka. I exploit Smirnoff model, however any will work (it doesn’t should be costly!).

Storing

Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. This sauce may be frozen in an hermetic container for as much as a number of months.

Diet

Dietary data is predicated on third-party calculations and ought to be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will range primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.

Dessert

Penne Alla Vodka – Sugar Spun Run